Tc R7 — A Lewiston snowmobiler escaped injury but his riding companion was killed Friday when he crashed his snowmobile into a tree in this Penobscot County territory.

The Maine Warden Service said Wayne Nickerson, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wardens were notified about the wreck at about 12:30 p.m. Investigators said Nickerson was riding east behind 49-year-old Bert Dickenson of Lewiston when he failed to negotiate a curve near a snowmobile bridge on the Sebois River.

Wardens said it appeared Nickerson’s snowmobile went airborne for a short distance before hitting the tree. The victim received head trauma despite wearing a helmet, wardens said in a press release. The 2007 Arctic Cat F-8 was heavily damaged and was removed from the scene.

The crash remained under investigation.